I love a good rock track with a gritty edge, so it’s no surprise that I’m digging deelanZ’s newest. It has elements of a throwback to early ’90s grunge rock, don’t-give-a-fuck attitude and all, which brings back memories of hearing The Smashing Pumpkins on the radio on repeat and walking down the street, headphones on blasting “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Like any era relegated to the past, there’s something mystical about those days that’s difficult to replicate authentically. Sure, you can check off all the genre-based boxes, but there’s an intangible vibe that transcends quantification.
“Authenticity” is one of the rare songs that channels that intangible vibe, the ghosts of grunge’s past coursing through indie rock of the present. It feels like a flannel-wearing mallrat anthem for pacing around your suburb’s stomping grounds while brimming with confidence that it’s your turf. Light a cigarette, inhale, and look around at the monotonous wasteland you inhabit. Exhale and think about how you’re going to get out of this town to carve your own path. Throw your cigarette butt on the ground, stomp it out, and put your headphones on. Press play on “Authenticity”.
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